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A Vibrant Platform At The Service Of Cluster Organisations

The European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) is an action of the Cluster Internationalisation Programme for SMEs funded under COSME launched by DG GROW of the European Commission in 2016.
The ECCP provides networking and information support for clusters and their members aiming to improve their performance and increase their competitiveness through trans-national and international cooperation.

About Cluster Organisations

This is the stage on which cluster organisations present themselves - their structures, services, experiences and above all, their interest in cooperation with peers. We invite you to explore this diverse cluster community, identify your potential cooperation partner and show the world what you are good at - by profiling your organisation !

What is ESCP-4i?

The European Strategic Cluster Partnerships – Going International (ESCPs-4i) are transnational cluster partnerships that develop and implement a joint internationalination strategy and support SME internationalisation towards third countries beyond Europe.

What are ESCPs ?

The European Strategic Cluster Partnerships have been launched by the European Commission as effective means of supporting cross-border collaboration for the benefit of SMEs with the ultimate goal of boosting economic growth and competitiveness in Europe.

About matchmaking events

ECCP organises inter-European matchmaking events, as well as opportunities for you to meet your peers from other countries – either in EU or abroad. Find also additional international matchmaking opportunities promoted here.

About European Cluster Initiatives

As an information hub, ECCP collects and structures a wide variety of information relevant for cluster organisations from various European programmes and initiatives like the ones below.
These are supporting in different ways the interaction between clusters and for driving the competitiveness of European businesses. We offer you here the unique opportunity to find out more about the most relevant cluster-related projects and what you can learn from them. Or, why not, cooperate with them!

Japan

EU-Japan cluster collaboration is well established since 2008. The EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation offers services to European and Japanese clusters to help them identify potential cooperation partners in the reciprocal regions (matchmaking missions, thematic focus…).

Based on close economic ties and through a stable and fruitful business and innovation environment, bilateral trade is well established between Japan and the EU, and is notably focused on some high-technology sectors.

Japan has a clear cluster strategy, and offers a number of cluster programmes on a national and regional level. These programmes have allowed for a rich cluster community to develop, as well as the creation of the novel concept of “Knowledge Clusters”, which refers to a system for technological innovation. Knowledge clusters are organised by a local initiative around universities and other public research institutions with original R&D topics, as well as companies.

Economic and political context and framework

As a highly developed economy and a major global trader and investor, Japan is an important partner for the EU. Japan is considered as one of the most innovative economies in the world. In terms of important sectors for business, EU exports to Japan are dominated by a few high-technology sectors such as motor vehicles, machinery, pharmaceuticals, optical and medical instruments, and electrical machinery and exports from Japan to the EU are also dominated by machinery, electrical machinery, motor vehicles, optical and medical instruments, and chemicals.

Diplomatic relations between the EU and Japan are well developed, and trade and industrial policy dialogue are ongoing. The Directorate-General (DG) for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs has been working with the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) on an industrial policy dialogue since 1998. The aim is to further develop regulatory convergence and solve regulatory hurdles. The cooperation allows for better mutual understanding of respective policies, particularly relating to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and government procurement. Negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement between EU and Japan are ongoing (already 13 rounds of negotiations since 2013).Read less.

Cluster community in the country

The Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) has developed a mapping tool that provides information about the industrial clusters (major companies, related research institutions, main sectors, etc.) in various regions of Japan, and various sectors (mainly Automobiles and Transport Equipment, Aircraft, Food manufacturing, ICT, Electronics, Life Sciences, Environment and Energy, Service, Tourism).

Japan benefits from an important cluster landscape (at least 45 cluster organisations in 2013). The cluster organisations were all initiated and funded by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) or the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

Most Japanese clusters appear to have international activities, sometimes in the form of international cluster cooperation, and often with Europe. In terms of innovation, a category has been created and distinguished from other clusters, the “Knowledge clusters” defined as a system for technological innovation, organised by a local initiative around universities and other public research institutions with original R&D topics, as well as with companies. Moreover, an important part of the other cluster organisations has identified increasing R&D as an objective and mission of the cluster.Read less.

Cluster policies encouraging the development and internationalisation of clusters

Cluster Plans have been implemented and adjusted by the Japanese Government to become effective policies for regional innovation and job creation. The cluster policy in Japan is strongly dedicated to growth in industrial sectors and innovation.

Japan has a clear cluster policy implemented by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and also by regional authorities.

Japan has a clear cluster policy implemented by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and also by regional authorities.

The METI has established an industrial cluster policy since 2001 (20 Industrial Cluster Projects launched within the first period until 2005 which aim to enhance the competitiveness of Japan through industrial clusters.) The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has also launched several projects supporting cluster development over the last few years.

International cooperation in the field of cluster policy takes a strong importance in Japan. All cluster initiatives have dedicated tools or programmes aiming at encouraging international cooperation.Read less.

Cluster to cluster cooperation opportunities and potential interest from European clusters and SMEs

EU-Japan cluster cooperation is well established since 2008 (“EU-Japan Regional Cluster Forum”).The EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation was established in 1987, under the joint initiative of the European Commission (DG Enterprise and Industry) and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The centre organises matchmaking missions to Japan for EU Clusters, notably thematic mission.

A new service of the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation called the Japan Technology Transfer Helpdesk has been established, dedicated at supporting primarily EU SMEs in finding promising technologies originating from Japanese universities and research centres (ongoing survey).

An MoU was signed between ECCP and the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation in 2012, showing that the EU-Japan cluster cooperation is clearly already well established.

Cooperation Agreement

News

From 14 to 18 November, the EU-Japan Centre organised the second edition of its matchmaking mission to Japan for EU SMEs and clusters and focusing on ICT. The purpose of this 5-day mission was to support and encourage participants in establishing a first contact with Japanese clusters and SMEs in view of further collaboration and concrete business opportunities. This year 18 participants attended the...Read more

The European Strategic Cluster Partnership on Personalized Healthcare, bioXclusters plus – gathering Biocat (Catalonia), BioM (Bavaria), BioPmed (Piedmont) and Lyonbiopole (Auvergne Rhone-Alpes) – organized in collaboration with the EU Japan Centre a mission to Japan from Oct 10th to 14th 2016 , that took place in Osaka and Yokohama.
The...Read more

Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster (KBIC) will exhibit at MEDICA2016 ( Hall16-B51 ) from the 14 to 17 November 2016 in Dusseldorf, Germany, with 11 medical-related member companies (see in the link below) and JETRO Kobe (Japan External Trade Organization, Kobe Office) in order to give them the opportunities for business matching and encourage EU companies to expand into the Japanese market through KBIC ...Read more

Achievements

ESCP-4i News

The European Strategic Cluster Partnership alliance on Personalized Healthcare, bioXclusters Plus - gathering Biocat, BioM, BioPmed and Lyonbiopole – organises in collaboration with the EU Japan centre a mission to Japan from Oct 9th to 14th 2016. Companies from the bioXclusters Plus' regions have been invited to join and participate to a dedicated “European Biotech & Pharma Partnering Conference” organised at Senri-Life Science Center in Osaka on Oct 11th . Then the full delegation will join the Bio Japan Conference in Yokohama. Discover the full programme mission in the attached document and more...

The project “Worldwide intercluster initiative for new materials and processes focused on clean technologies”, so-called WIINTECH, is proposed within the European Commission initiative launched in april 2011 aiming to promote the internationalization of European cluster and to develop world class cluster practices. In particular, the project is addressing the strand 1 part of the EC call 3/G/ENT/CIP/11/C/N04C011 “Promoting international cluster activities in CIP participating countries” and is co financed under the Framework Programme for Competitiveness and Innovation (CIP). The project WIINTECH is...

WIINTECH stands for “Worldwide Intercluster Initiative for New materials and processes focused on clean TECHnologies”. This initiative has been supported within a pilot project funded by the EC in 2012 and 2013. It enabled to set up and pilot a common international strategy established focusing on a selected number of countries (USA, Brazil, Japan and India) and well-defined set of partners: with whom MOUs have been signed: The WIINTECH 2020 project aims to foster the most promising international cooperations that have been started within the pilot project in the field of new materials, advanced...